Coupling device for automobile self-starters and dynamos



Aug. 17,1926. 1,596,517

A. DUTREUX COUPLING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILESELF STARTERS AND DYNAIIOS Fi'led June 9. l9 25 3 Shuts-Sheet 1 Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,517

AAAAAAA ux E R AUTO 0 M B R Filed J 3 sheets-sh t 2 Aug. 17, 1926. 1,596,517

A. DUTREUX COUPLING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE SELF STARTERS A ND I JYN AMOS Filed June 9. 1925 '3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y/ /V i 4/ W 44/ 45 T v Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUS'I'E DUTREUX, OF ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, FRANCE, ASSIGN'OR TO SOCIETE ANONYME POUR LEQUIPEMENT ELECTRIQUE DES VEHICULES, OF ISSY-LES- MOULINEAUX, FRANCE, A. JOINT STOCK COMPANY OF FRANCE.

COUPLING DEVICE FOR AUTOIEOBILE SELF-STARTERS AND DY NAMOS.

Application filed June 9, 1925, Serial No. 36,064, and in France September 15, 1924.

It has already been proposed to couple an electromagnetic machine with an automobile engine, the said machine acting either as a starter or as a generating dynamo for charging the storage battery or accumulators, feeding lamps, or other apparatus.

WVhen the electromagnetic machine acts as starter it is geared to the internal combustion engine and can thus drive, with arelatively weak connection and high speed, an internal combustion engine having a relatively high resistance, giving it, however, asufficient speed for starting it.

As soon as the engine is running, the speed should be automatically reduced and the electric machine, then working as a generator, be

. directly driven at the same speed as the en- Cal gine. k The present invention relates to a coupling device for obtaining the foregoing results and consists of a planet pinion coupling fixed to the shaft of the engine, the pinions of said coupling gearing with a pinion fixed on the shaft of the electromagnetic machine or dynamo.

l ly improved device also comprises a sliding pinion moved by a threaded sleeve mounted loosely on the shaft of each planet wheel, said sliding pinion being displaced in one direction or the other on said casing according to the stresses it has to support, v

so that said sliding pinion in starting will gear with a fixed orbit wheel and. run'on that wheel, thus reducing the speed between the engine shaft and that of the electromagnetic machine, whereas in order to make the electromagnetic machine work as a generator, said sliding pinion separates from the planet wheel and thus allows the engine shaft to be coupled directly with the shaft of the electric machine. hflv invention also comprises the other features whieh will be apparent from the appended claims. The electromagnetic machine will. be hereinafter referred to as a dynamo or electric motor according to the use to which it being put. A preferred form the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

igs. 1 and 1 constitute when placed to i an axial longitudinal section at the Fig. 2 is a transverse section along the line 222 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is aside view of a pair of brake jaws for arresting or releasing the sliding pinion. r

. Fig. 4 is a partial view of the speed reducing mechanism.

Figs. 5 and 6 are two plan views of a portion of the device shown in Fig. l, the sliding pinion being shown in two diflerentpositions.

The hollow shaft 30, on which the armature 31 of the electromagnetic machine is secured runs in two ball bearings 32 and 33.

A solid shaft 1 equipped at its outer end with a key 34, by means of which a starting crank can be connected thereto is connected with the hollow shaft of the armature 31 by means of a long key 49 which allows the solid shaft 1 to slide in the said hollow shaft, while in its rotary movements.

Shaft 1 has a toothed pinion 4 on its inner end, with which the planet pinion 5 engages.

There are clutch teeth 19 at the inner end of shaft 1 which teeth can engage corre- Q spending teeth 18 on the shaft 2 of the en gine. A helical spring 20 placed between shaft 1 and engine shaft 2 tends to constantly separate these shafts as shown in Fig. 1. I 1 p The planet pinion 5 is keyed on a sleeve 6 formed with a quick thread. The sleeve 6 can turn freely on a spindle 7, one end of which is fitted into a disc 21 which carries the planet pinion and is formed integral with the shaft 2 of the engine, the other end of said spindle being fitted into a disc 35, the two discs 21 and being made in one piece being connected by the part 36 so as upon the threaded sleeve 6 from one end s r 7 thereof to the otl 3 this pinion 9 is provided on one of its with cogs 37 QFrg.

5) adapted to engage withthe cogs 38 of a clutch coupling 60'mountedloosely on the spindle 7 and fitted in the disc 35.

Two washers 61, 62, made of a material having 'a constant coefficient of friction (for prolonged by the jaws 51 which press against-the. brake ring 56 ofthe sliding oinion 9 thus reventin ainion 9 from roainple fer do)"are threaded on the clutch 60 on either side of the disc 35. Belle-ville -place a helical spring 54- placed between spindle 7, the .l

:the 38,

said jaws 51.

The two aws 51, under the spring 5%,

action of grip a brake ring 56-IX12Cl8 integral-with the'sliding pinion '9 which screws upon the sleeve 6.

tating.

ln'sliding in the'd'irec'tion ie L, the sliding pinion 9j engages with the'fii'ied" orbit wheel 10 which again prevents its rotation.

. Slidingpinion-S) presses against an elastic washer 25 on the planet pinion 5 which pre- -vents impact between the-saidparts. Pin- Two steps providedon the disc 35,-

lirnitthe movement of the" jaws 51 about rows 57 in Fig. 3.

The pivots 52 are above the centres of gravity G of the two jaws 51-. Conse quently,when SEHCl' aws are carried round by the rotation of disc 35,-thecent1frugal power F applied at the centres ot gravity G assists spring to turn the 'JZHVS in the their pivots 52 in thedirection of the ardirection 57thus assuring the gripping of the slidingpinion between th aws.

An internally toothed wheel 10 is fixed inthe casing'of the apparatus and is adapted to. engage with the sliding pinion 9.

The operation is as follows:

(a) In the first place the electric-motorwhen acting as a starter must drive the engine shaft '2 at a reduced speed.

lV hen the apparatus is at rest in the-posi tion shown in Fig. 1, the cogs 3': ot the slidingpinionQ are engaged-with the cogs $38 of the clutch 60.

Current being now switched on to theelectric' motor, the hollow shaft 30 by nzeans o: the long 4L9 drives shaft 1 in the direction of the arrow 42.

(Fig; 1

The pinion't drives the planet pinion 5 and the threaded sleeve G-lreved to said-pinion. these twoniernbers turn r freely the I b I eve 6 l3G111gdOOS8 on said spindle.

Sleeve 6 moves thesliding pinion 9 forward in the direction 44 '(Fig. 1.), without a said pinion. liiloreover, pinion 9 pre ented from turning during its initial motion ow) g to its cogs 37 being engaged witlrcogs of the clutch 6O the-latt r be ins; unable to urn on its axis owing to i Monet {he the washers 61 62. placed between 1011 9 thus is released from clutch and dis The sliding n tion 58 leaves the 'OI'bIt WhQGl 1O and'nioves in the (erection 58 on sleeve 6.

ion 5 and sleeve 6 are thus displaced in the directionae and cornpressthe: spring 22, whichpreventsall impact at the tiine of starting; Finally, the advance of the'pinion in the direction l i is arrested; and

planet :pinion 5 turns wit'h'it and begins to rotate c'n'the orbit wheel 10 and consequently' drives th spindlef around shaft 1.

The spindle 7 drives'the planet gear disc 21 andshaft '2' of-the engine at a decreased peed t'vhich is a unction otthevarious liaineters ot-the planet gear system thus onstituted.

1 (5) After-the internal combustion: engine -nas been starte'd shatt2'will' rotate in the same direction asbezforeybut at ni-uch greater speech-and, in turn, picksup and drives the planet pinion disc 21 and spindle 7.

" i herety, the reaction or the fixed orbit vheel 10 on the sliding pinionSi is changed rotates onthe pinion a and its rotation causes-threaded sleeve 6 to turn in such a way that its-reaction on the sliding pinion 9 causes the latter to advance in the direc- Sliding pinion '9 now *The bralre ring 56 is cau 'ht between the hrakejaws 51 which grip it preventing rotation of the slidingpinion 9. This braking action of the jaws 51 begins before the sliding pinion 9*has conipletely escaped from the orbit wheel 10, so that pinion 9 is constantly prevented from turning on its axis; itthereiore only moves longitudinally in the direction 58.

' -Conti uing to advance in the direction 58 thecogs o'f pinion 9-finally engage again the 00 's ofthe clutch 60.

Darin-e normal operation of the geaig the friction *odu'ced between the terodo washers 61, 62 thedisc 35-and the clutch casing 63 is sutlicient to prevent allrotation off this "Consequently 'the pinion 9 is made inter dependent wrththedrsc 131111011 9, sleeve (3 and the planet pinion 5 cannot turn with respect to the discs 35, 21 which thus directly carry along by means oi pinion l, shaft 1 the hollow shaft 30 and the armature 31, and the direct coupling of the engine shaft 2and the hollow shaft 30 is etl'ected, the electromagnetic machine then acting a direction. liloreover the planet pinion as a dynamo to charge the battery or accumulators.

Should an excessive effort be produced as the sliding pinion 9 engages with the clutch 60, because the motor starts too suddenly or the dynamo shaft 30 rotates too quickly, the clutch 60 turns, in relation to the disc 35, thus allowing pinion 9, clutch 60 and planet pinion 5 to continue turning on the spindle 7.

This sliding movement gives an automatic stoppage in the transmission of motion between the engine shaft 2 and the shaft 30 of the electromagnetic machine preventing any excessive stresses in the mechanism.

As soon as the cause for producing this excessive stress ceases, the friction between the ferodo washers 61, 62, clutch 60 and disc 35, becomes sufiicient to oppose the rotation of clutchGO; pinion 9 can no longer turn on its axis and the engine shaft 2 is coupled directly with shaft 1 as previously explained (0) Should the starting resistance of the battery be damaged, it sufiices to fix a crank handle to the key 34 on shaft 1 and push this shaft in the direction 45 (Fig. 1 the spring is thereby compressed and the teeth 19 of shaft 1 engage with the corresponding teeth 18 of shaft 2; shafts 1 and can then be turned by hand for starting the internal combustion engine in the usual way.

When the crank is removed the shaft 1 returns automatically to the position shown in Fig. 1 under the action of the previously compressed spring 20.

It is to be noted that to couple shafts 1 and 2 no sliding movement is required either of shaft or the armature 31 of the electric machine, so that there is no inconvenience in mounting the shaft 30 on ball bearings without play; moreover the coupling is very easy and requires no effort.

The invention extends to the mechanism for starting by means of the aforesaid crank handle, whatever the various mechanisms for transmission between the shaft of the electric machine and the engine shaft may be.

The foregoing systems described as ample are of course susceptible of many variations. Forexamplef the brake jaws 51 can be replaced by any kind of brake placed between the sliding pinion 9 and the part 35 forming one with the planet pinion disc 21, during the idle time when pinion 9 is not engaged with the orbit wheel 10 nor with the part 35 forming one with theplanet pinion disc 21, so that pinion '9 will always be prevented from rotating on its axis and always tend to advance in one direction or the other according to requirements.

1 claim as my invention:

1., in a mechanism for starting an internal combustion engine, the combination with the engine shaft, of an electromagnetic machine, a shaft therefor adapted to be coupled with said engine shaft, a pinion on the shaft of said electromagnetic machine, a disc integral with said engine shaft, a spindle mounted in said disc parallel to the axis of the shaft of said electromagnetic machine, a planet pinion rotatably mounted on said spindle and engaging said pinion, a stationary orbit wheel, a sliding pinion threaded on said spindle and engaging said orbit wheel, means for connecting said spindle and said sliding pinion so as to move the latter on said spindle parallel with the axis thereof, and means controlled by said sliding pinion as it escapes from said orbit wheel for effecting direct connection of the shaft of said electromagnetic machine with said engine shaft. g

2. In -a device for starting an internal combustion engine, the combination with the engine shaft, of an electromagnetic machine, a shaft therefor adapted to be coupled with said engine shaft, a pinion on the shaft of said electromagnetic machine,- a disc fixed to said engine shaft, a spindle mounted in said disc parallel with the shaft of said electromagnetic machine, athreaded sleeve loosely mounted on said spindle, a planet pinion secured to said sleeve and meshing with the pinion on theshaft of said electromagnetic machine, a stationary orbit wheel, a sliding pinion mounted on said threaded sleeve and adapted to engage said yorbit wheel, and means controlled by said sliding pinion as it escapes from said orbit wheel for effecting direct connection of the shaft of said electromagnetic machine with said engine shaft. 3. In a starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine, the combination with the engine shaft, of an electromagnetic machine, a shaft therefor adapted to be coupled with engine shaft, a pinion on the shaft of said electromagnetic machine, a disc fixed.

to said engine shaft, a spindle mounted in said disc parallel with the axis of the electromagnetic machine, a planet pinion rotatably mounted onv said spindle and ingear with the pinion on the shaft of said elec-- tromagnetic machine, a stationary orbit wheel, a sliding pinion threaded on said spindle and adapted to bearagainst said planet pinion and engage said orbit wheel, means for moving said sliding pinion on said spindle parallel to the axis thereof, and means controlled by said sliding pinion as 'it escapes from said orbit wheel for eft'ect- 7 ing direct connection of the shaft of said chine, a shaft therefor adapted to be coupled of said electromagnetic machine, a disc integr'alwith saidengine shaft,a spindle can 'capes from said orbit wheel pa rallel with the a ried by said disc parallelwith t-lie'axis of with SillClBIlfJlIlG Slldfll, a'pinion on the shaftl-= said electromagnetic machine, a planet pin-" ion rotatably mounted on said spindle and engaged with the pinion on the shaft of said electromagnetic machine, a resilient member na-l combustion engine, the con between said planet pinion and said discfl a stationary Olblt Yx'liQQl asliding pinion threaded on said spindle and adapted to en gage SELlCl'OTblt- Wheel, ameans connecting said" spindle and said sliding=piiiion for moving said sliding pinion on said sp ndle is thereof, and means controlled bysaid sii i g pinion as it c for producing In a ineclianism' for starting an inter the engine shaft, of an electromagnetic inachinepashaft therefor, a pinion on the shaft of said electromagnetic machine a disc inte gr-alwith saidengin'e shaft, a spindle car-- pinion on the shaft of said electromagneticrie'd by said disc parallel with the axis of -sa1d electromagnetic machine, a planet pin- "ion rotatably mounted" on-said spindle, a

machine in mesh with said planet pinion, a.

stationary orbit 1 Wheel, a

liding pinion -tl-ireaded on said spindle and adapted to engage said orbit wheel, a resilient member between said sliding P1111011flDChSitld-PlflilQf pinion, means connecting said spindle andsaid slidingpinionso as to move saic slidin pinion on said spindle parallel with the axis thereof, and means controlled by said sliding pinion as it escapes from said orbit direct e1 s rent of'the shaft o said electromagnetic machine with said engmeshaftziiiiation' with I means and saiddisc for limiting the slid- Wheelfor causing directengagement of the shaft of said electromagnetic machine with said engine-shaft.

6. In a "mechanism for starting an inter-- "nal combustion engine, the combination with chine, ashaft thereforfapinion onthe shaft of SZLlCl electromagnetic 'l11aGlllI1G,"i"Cl1SC se--' the engine shaft, of anelectroinagnetic ma cured to said engine shaft, a spindle mounted on said"discparallehwith the ai of said electromagnetic machine, a plane Jpinion rotatably mounted on said spindle,

. a pinion on the shaft of said electromagnetic machine in mesh withsaid} planet pinion,

' threa'ded on'said spindle andadapted to on said o'i'bit wheel, a means connectingtionary orbitwheel, a slid.ing-'pinion V said spindle'and saidfslidingpinion so as to move said slidingpmion on said spindle.

parallel With-the 'aXis thereof, coupling means on said"slidingpinion, and"coup ling means on said disc adapted to engagesaict first coupling means, thereby preventing the rotation of"said"sliding pinion and said planet pinion relative to said disc and producing direct *enga'ge'nient of said "engine" shaft with the shaft of said electromagnetic machine. I

7. -ln a mechanism for starting an internal combustion engine, the combination with the engine shaft, of an electromagnetic machine, a shafttherefor', a pinion on the shaft ofsaid' electromagnetic machine, a disc integral with said engine shaft, a spindle carried by said disc parallel'with the axis of said electromagnetic machine, apl net pin :ionfiotatably mounted on said spindle, pinion on the shaft of said electromagnetic machine in. engagement With said planet pinion, stationary orbit Wheel, sliding pinio'n coupling said spindle and slidin pinion so as to move the latter on said spindle to the axis thereof, coupling means carried by said sliding vinion, a-coupling carried by said disc-and adapted to engage said first coupling means, and an'additional coupling means between the said second coupling Wheehaslidingrpinion threadedon said spindle and adapted to mesh'with said 'oi'bit Wheel, a means for coupling said spindle and said sliding pinion so as to'move said sliding pinion parallel with said spindle, a coupling means carried by said sliding pinion, acoupling means pro ided on said disc so as to engagewith the said first coupling means, Washers of' friction-materi-al having a high coeficient of friction placed between said second coupling and said disc, and resilient members pressingfsaid Washers and said second coupling against said disc.

9. in a mechanism for starting-an internal 'COHlbtiSlllOfi engine, the combination with the engine shaft, of an electromagnetic machine, ashaft'tlier for, a'pinioncarried by the shaft of said electromagnetic machine, adisc secured to sa dengine shaft, a second disoparallel withsaid first disc and being integral therewith, a spindle carried by said discs parallelwitli the axis of said electromagnetic maehine,-a planet-pinion rotatably mounted on said spindle'in engagement with the piniono'ii the shaft of saidelectromagnetic machine, stationary orbit'Wheel, a sliding pinion threaded on said spindle and adapted to engage said orbit Wheel, a means "for coupling said spindle and said sliding pinion so as to move-said Pinion parallel threaded on said spindle and adapted to mesh -With said orbit- Wheel, a means for with the axis of said spindle, a coupling means carried by said sliding pinion, a coupling means carried by said second disc and adapted to engage said first coupling means, so as to prevent said sliding pinion and said planet pinion from rotating relative to said discs thereby producing a direct gearing of said engine shaft and the shaft of said electromagnetic machine.

10. In a starting device for an internal combustion engine, the combination with the engine shaft, of an electromagnetic machine, a shaft therefor, a pinion on the shaft of said electromagnetic machine, a member integral with said engine shaft formed with two parallel discs united by a middle part, a spindle carried by said two discs parallel with the aXis of said electromagnetic machine, a planet pinion rotatably mounted on said spindle in engagement with the pinion on the shaft of said electromagnetic machine, a stationary orbit wheel, a sliding pinion threaded on said spindle and adapted to engage with said planet wheel, a means for coupling said spindle and said sliding pinion so as to move said pinion parallel with the axis thereof, a coupling means carried by said sliding pinion, a second coupling means carried by said member and adapted to engage said first coupling means so as to prevent the rotation of said sliding pinion and planet pinion relative to said discs and producing a direct engagement ,of said engine shaft with the shaft of said electromagnetic machine. I

11. In a starting device for an internal combustion engine, the combination with the engine shaft, of an electromagnetic machine, a shaft therefor, a pinion on the shaft of said electromagnetic machine, a disc with said engine shaft, a spindle carried by said disc parallel with the axis of said electromagnetic machine, a planet pinion rotatably mounted on said spindle and adapted to engage with the pinion on the shaft of said electromagnetic machine, a stationary orbit wheel, a sliding pinion threaded on said spindle and adapted to engage with said planet wheel, a means for coupling said spindle and said sliding pinion so as to move said sliding pinion parallel with the axis thereof, a means controlled by said sliding pinion for producing direct engagement of the shaft of said electromagnetic machine and said engine shaft, and a means. to brake said sliding pinion preventing its rotation during cessation of its parallel motion, when said sliding pinion is not engaged with said orbit wheel.

12. In a starting device for an internal combustion engine, the combination with the engine shaft, of an electromagnetic machine, a shaft therefor, a pinion carried by the shaft of said electromagnetic machine, a disc integral with said engine shaft, a spindle carried by said disc parallel with the axis of said electromagnetic machine, a planet pinion rotatably mounted on said spindle in mesh with the pinion on the shaft of said electromagnetic machine, a stationary orbit wheel, a sliding pinion threaded on said spindle and adapted to engage said orbit wheel, a means for connecting said spindle and said sliding pinion so as to move said sliding pinion parallel to the axis of said spindle, a means controlled by said sliding pinion for producing direct engagement of the shaft of said electromagnetic machine with said engine shaft, movable jaws on said engine shaft, a resilient member placed between said jaws and adapted to grip them on a prolongation of said sliding pinion acting as a brake on said sliding pinion preventing rotation of said sliding pinion when the latter is not engaged with said orbit wheel.

13. In a starting device for an internal combustion engine, the combination with the engine shaft of an electromagnetic machine, a frame, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and carrying the armature of said electromagnetic machine and held against longitudinal movement, a solid shaft mounted in said hollow shaft, a means for rotatably connecting said hollow shaft and said solid shaft enabling said solid shaft to slide within said hollow shaft, a pinion formed on said solid shaft, a transmission mechanism (5, 7, 10, 21 engaged on the one hand, with said pinion and, on the other, with said engine shaft, a coupling member placed on the end of said solid shaft and a similar coupling member on said engine shaft adapted to engage said first coupling member when said solid shaft is caused to slide in said hollow shaft.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

AUGUSTE DUTREUX. 

